This must be my Month for strange Things Worms in Books HELP PLEASE ~~

[Gare]

I checked on some books i had in one of my storage buildings. I had 3 books setting near the middle of one building. I looked at the top book and it looked like acid had gotten on it. After picking the books up and looking closer this is what i seen





This was the bottom book of the three

I have NEVER seen anything like this before. In my one storage area I have probably over 10,000 books. I am sure i need to do something about this . Does anyone else have any information and ideas. Most of my books are history books . Some of you that know me know that i have some very valuable books and i have gave some away to people on here. I need to save what i can. Please give me your ideas. What are these insects ?


Thanks in Advance

 

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[crashbandicoot]

I,d say termites,run don,t walk to your nearest exterminator for a positive ID and what to do.

 

[Gare]

I,d say termites,run don,t walk to your nearest exterminator for a positive ID and what to do.

Many THANKS crashbandicoot !! BUDDY !!! I will look into it and report

 

[crashbandicoot]

Many THANKS crashbandicoot !! BUDDY !!! I will look into it and report

We gottem bad down here,they,ll destroy any thing wood or that once was wood,think paper.I,m a book guy,it ain,t real if I don,t have a book in my hand,so i can imagine your consternation.Best of luck getting them dead!

 

[Red-Coat]

Wow! I'm glad that's something we don't have to deal with over here. When one of my friends was living in California he got fined for not carrying out his periodic fumigation for termites. Not something a Brit would be aware of as a requirement. I've seen similar damage caused by carpenter ants, which we do have (so does the US) but they're not a widespread problem.

 

[SD51]

Gives a whole new meaning to "Book Worm!"

 

[Almy]

Termites can digest cellulose with the help of microbes in their gut. Cellulose is the main component of paper made from wood, cotton or papyrus. So books are food for them. I've never seen damage to books before but my knowledge of termites is largely from the books of my profession (wood scientist) because we don't termites yet this far north. Good thing they didn't get at my books or I may never have learned about them! They sure are damaging!

 

[Gulf Coast Pirate]

Could be silver fish too, they are known to destroy books
Could be silver fish too. They are known to destroy books.

 

[smokeythecat]

There are numerous types of grubs that will eat paper. Call an exterminator asap. Sevin dust can kill a lot of bugs, but if you bring some inside the house, they may go nutso inside. I would not bring any inside till I knew for sure what they were.

 

[Gulf Coast Pirate]

Could be silver fish too. They are known to destroy books.

 

[CreakyDigger]

All books with that damage need to be destroyed. Do not take any into your house. If you have some remaining that are not damaged, have them fumigated by a professional. I know books; it's what I do.

 

[Gulf Coast Pirate]

Strange that my comment posted three times and won't delete....

 

[Lenrac2]

Looks like termites. I hope you can save most of your books!

 

[crashbandicoot]

I thought you were just being emphatic!Seriously,I,ve had that happen to me too,don,t remember what I did to fix it,I,m not real computer literate.Hey,I liked it all three times!

 

[pepperj]

Just go down to the feed store, 50 lb bag for $60 or so.
Put a mask on powder the living $hit out of that storage place.
End result:

Diatomaceous Earth is one of the most effective and generally safe insecticides for ridding your home of infesting insects—including termites.
The product works by shredding the outer shell of the termites and dehydrating them in a matter of days.

You probably got some around the farm.

 

[Red-Coat]

Just go down to the feed store, 50 lb bag for $60 or so.
Put a mask on powder the living $hit out of that storage place.
End result:

Diatomaceous Earth is one of the most effective and generally safe insecticides for ridding your home of infesting insects—including termites.
The product works by shredding the outer shell of the termites and dehydrating them in a matter of days.

You probably got some around the farm.

It does work and is certainly eco-friendly, but it only works 'on contact' so it won't necessarily destroy a colony or nest (unlike efficient fumigation). If you're going to use it, make sure to get agricultural/horticultural grade... not the stuff sold for swimming pool filtration.

 

[smokeythecat]

And it won't effect eggs. Ugh.

 

[pepperj]

It does work and is certainly eco-friendly, but it only works 'on contact' so it won't necessarily destroy a colony or nest (unlike efficient fumigation). If you're going to use it, make sure to get agricultural/horticultural grade... not the stuff sold for swimming pool filtration.

Out of the 600+ mines in the states there's only 6 that are food grade quality.
If a person puts in the trackway of ants they'll bring back to the nest.
The worker termites will also spread the product to the soldiers, kings, and the queen over time.
"With all residual insecticides, the application process is key in effectively ridding the infestation. Never clump this product and always use a dust applicator to create a fine, nearly invisible layer of product over all structures infested or prone to infestation. Diatomaceous Earth will work if you have the patience to wait for the product to spread to the entire colony—which is worth the wait."